Westbrook trade a symbol of disappointing summer for Nuggets

Russell Westbrook should help the Denver Nuggets next year. That says more about the Nuggets' offseason than Westbrook himself.

For the second time in 17 months, a Los Angeles team traded Westbrook to the Utah Jazz in order for them to waive him. After a buyout, he's expected to join the Denver Nuggets, where he'll replace Reggie Jackson as the team's backup point guard.

Westbrook isn't providing an upgrade in Denver as much as he's providing a necessary warm body off the bench.

Last season, Westbrook averaged a career-low 11.1 points in a career-low 22.5 minutes per game. He grabbed five rebounds and averaged 4.5 assists while shooting 45.4% from the field and 27.3% from three-point range.

For a Nuggets team that was last in the NBA in three-point attempts, it's not exactly what it needs. But it does need players.

Denver lost starter Kentavious Caldwell-Pope when he signed with the Orlando Magic. It gave up second-round picks in 2029 and 2030 to dump Jackson, meaning it lost two players who covered 21% of its minutes last season.

Its biggest signing was a backup center, Dario Saric, a move which became especially necessary when Denver's first-round pick, DaRon Holmes, tore his Achilles on the first night of Summer League.

Westbrook may not be an efficient scorer anymore, but the Nuggets are going to need volume off the bench. It's possible that Nuggets GM Calvin Booth wants head coach Michael Malone to rely on young players Christian Braun, Peyton Watson and Julian Strawther more, but with Braun in the starting lineup and the other two just 22-years-old, Westbrook provides insurance and stability.

But it's telling that the Nuggets are going only with cheap options like Saric and Westbrook despite having Nikola Jokic, winner of three of the last four MVP awards. The team is simply unable or unwilling to spend big on this team. Westbrook's main appeal seems to be that he's available, affordable and old enough to rent a car.

Perhaps acquiring Westbrook would have been exciting two or three years ago. Now, it's just a sign that the Nuggets didn't have better options during a summer when they took a big step backwards.